Series Made Simple aims to provide educators, librarians, and readers with a well-­rounded overview of the season’s best and worthwhile nonfiction series selections. Familiar offerings are bountiful: a wide array of titles that chronicle the secret lives of animals, engaging arts and crafts activities that are sure to delight curious minds, deep dives into the science behind the inner workings of our Earth, and an illuminating mixture of history titles that utilize the ­importance of research and primary sources.

The current state of our turbulent political and social climate is impossible to ignore and quite a few publishers have released books that speak to this urgent call to action. Series that tackle government-related topics include the history and purpose of the Constitution, social justice and political activism, and the branches of government. Students searching for guidance on their post-high school career options will find a valuable resource in the titles that peel back the layers of professional industries.

As cited by reviewer Natalie Romano, “With as many as roughly five million English language learning students in the U.S. today (National Center for Education Statistics, May 2019), the need for second language media in schools and libraries continues to increase, and for good reasons.” Spanish-language series, whether that is Spanish-only or bilingual, are great assets for school curriculums, educational settings, and general readership. Many publishers have continued to provide new series for this need, proving that equal representation is not just a trend.

We hope that this curated list will not only inspire your patrons to further explore the aforementioned subjects but look more closely at themselves and the world around them.

Catch you in the spring! 

Vanessa Willoughby
Editor, Series Made Simple
vwilloughby@mediasourceinc.com

Series Made simple 2019 Fall Articles

Biomes, Breeds, and Behaviors | Animals

Spectacular and Craft-Tacular | Arts & Crafts

Brilliant Minds, Brilliant Lives | Biography

Cosmic Connections | General Science

An Evolution of Democracy | Government

Hale and Hearty | Health & the Human Body

Literary Enlightenment | Guided & Hi-Lo Reading

Echoes From the Past | History

Bright Futures and Beyond | Jobs & Careers

Unseen Worlds, Newfound Delights | Landmarks

Tales Timeless and Tantalizing | Myths, Folktales, & Urban Legends

Finding Common Ground | Social Science

The Importance of Intersectionality | Spanish

Game Changers | Sports

Technically Speaking | Technology & Machines

Cover illustration by Giacomo Marchesi